First tenant already signed at Hughes Landing

By Tamra Santana

Published 2:47 pm, Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Photo: Courtesy Of The Woodlands Develo

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Layne Christensen, a global water management, construction and drilling company, has leased 51,152 square feet of One Hughes Landing, a planned 20-story office building on The Woodlands Waterway.Layne Christensen, a global water management, construction and drilling company, has leased 51,152 square feet of One Hughes Landing, a planned 20-story office building on The Woodlands Waterway. less

Layne Christensen, a global water management, construction and drilling company, has leased 51,152 square feet of One Hughes Landing, a planned 20-story office building on The Woodlands Waterway.Layne ... more

Photo: Courtesy Of The Woodlands Develo

First tenant already signed at Hughes Landing

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Construction has begun on the first office building in Hughes Landing, a 66-acre mixed-use development on the east end of Lake Woodlands.

Sutton said the building is designed to be LEED silver certified, an internationally recognized green building program.

"The Woodlands has been green before anyone knew what green meant," he said.

"We've been at the forefront, and it's consistent with not just the development company but the community in general."

Besides, Sutton said sustainable practices have become industry standards.

"That's the way the industry is moving," he said. "That's what tenants expect and what developers do."

Gensler architectural firm is designing the building.

Principal Dean Strombom said the company focuses on sustainable building.

"Even if we weren't submitting for LEED certification, the nature of the buildings we're designing these days would meet those standards," he said.

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Property overview

197,000: Rentable square feet

8-story: Class A office building with adjacent parking garage

7,500: Square feet of retail at lake level

Designed: To be LEED Silver Certified

High quality: Lobby finishes and rich exterior construction

Situated: In Hughes Landing at Lake Woodlands

Walking distance: To planned boardwalk, retail, hotel and residential

The Woodlands Development Co.

Strombom said several materials for the project will be locally sourced.

"The building will be extremely efficient," he said.

"We're going to do everything we can to improve air quality and use of resources."

He also believes that tenants prefer green buildings.

"Not only does it show responsibility for the environment, these things lead to lower operating costs and more efficient personnel," he said.

Strombom said the building features 7,500 square feet of lakeside retail and restaurant space on the ground floor. He said tenants also prefer space with access to restaurants and shops.

"We're looking for opportunities for tenants to enjoy amenities within the building," he said.

"We're also orienting the building to face the lake and retail area, so offices can use the amenities in the entire area."

"Beautiful building"

LaRosa said both the proximity to retail and the LEED certification impacted Layne Christensen's decision to lease space at One Hughes Landing.

"We are a sustainable solution company so the LEED aspect was important to us," he said.

"It's a beautiful building, and we'll have the whole perimeter view of the lake."

Construction is expected to be complete by September.

The building is the first of up to eight office buildings slated for the development. Sutton said office buildings will be completed as the market dictates - with both speculative and built-to-suit projects. The development company's plans for the area include a boutique hotel, retail space and an entertainment venue, as well as upscale, multi-family residential housing.

"This is one component of a larger center," Strombom said. "All of these things are packed into one location that's more pedestrian friendly."

Sutton said Hughes Landing will serve as a continuation of the efforts in Town Center.

"We're exporting some of the things we've done on Waterway Square," he said. "It's similar to it on many levels. It has an urban feel."

Sutton said the area was prime for development - bordered by Grogan's Mill Road, Lake Woodlands Drive and Lake Front Circle.

"It's adjacent to the Town Center, and it's bounded by two major thoroughfares," he said.

"It extends the Town Center. It's evolutionary."

No need to commute

Sutton said that expanding the urban center in The Woodlands will ultimately benefit residents.

"People won't have to commute," he said. "Maybe we're doing our part to reduce traffic."

He said providing space for more businesses also will draw employees to settle in the area.

"It has always been a plan for The Woodlands to be a hometown -not just a bedroom community for Houston," he said.